All of us know someone who's been treated for cancer, or have undergone it ourselves, and no matter what form the treatment takes the impact is intrusive and profound..

Now, for the first time, a study on the impact of chemotherapy on our tastebuds and perceptions. This groundbreaking research could help not only better prepare patients but guard against the dietary pitfalls that can lead to cancer recurring.

Chemotherapy works by attacking all the fast-growing cells in the body, whether they're cancerous or not, and just a quick scan of websites shows the impact chemo can have on hair loss, bone density, oral health, levels of nausea and in women the possibility of early menopause.

But there's little or no warning of the effect chemotherapy has on a patient's taste, smell and diet—yet anecdotally these side effects can be just as profound.

This new research traces the dietary and palate changes among 52 women being treated for breast cancer, and the resulting data has been recognised as essential in future literature by the Cancer Council of Australia.